ACHA/NCAL announces award winners

Programs and volunteers are being recognized by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) 2014 awards program.

The program’s three awards recognize those caring for residents of long-term care and post-acute care centers, homes for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities and assisted living communities. The Hero of the Year Award recognizes an individual who works or volunteers in an intermediate care facility or home- and community-based services waiver home and has shown commitment and dedication to serving people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. The Not-for-Profit Program of the Year Award highlights a specific program that adds value to the care of individuals within a community. The Volunteer of the Year Award, with three subcategories, seeks to honor a young adult (aged fewer than 19 years), an adult and a group organization that have served in a volunteer capacity for more than a year and have made positive contributions to residents and staff members of care centers.

2014 honorees:

• Hero of the Year ‒ Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Alicia Durham, Eureka, Calif., who volunteers at Butler Valley Inc., Carole Sund Center.
• Not for Profit Program of the Year: St. Benedict’s Health Center and Benedict Court, Dickinson, North Dakota.
• Volunteer of the Year ‒ Adult: Ruth-Ann Harrod, Wesley, Maine, who volunteers at Maine Veterans’ Homes.
• Volunteer of the Year ‒ Group: Amory High School health class, Amory, Miss., the members of which volunteer at Golden LivingCenter, Amory.
• Volunteer of the Year ‒ Young Adult: Bailey Austin Combs, Amburgey, Ky., who volunteers at Knott County Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Award recipients will be honored at the organization’s 65th annual meeting in October.